---------------------------------
[15] News update to follow later
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by redend:
News updated later - about 3PM today
---------------------------------
[14] France update
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
France won 1-0 (good Pires goa ) against Denmark, Barthez playing
the whole game. Safe and spectacular as usual. Silvestre remained on the bench.
---------------------------------
[13] Stam - the art of diving?
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"It's got to the stage where he has even told us: 'Don't try and stay on your feet if
you're in the box and get a slight kick'. He wants us to copy other sides we face in
European competitions and go down to win a penalty. Far too often English players seem
determined to keep running after getting a whack on the leg, even though the chance to
get a shot in has gone.
I don't think diving has caught on with the English youngsters yet, as their fair-play
mentality stops them from taking a tumble. Coaches at academy levels are honest and
would stamp out that kind of cheating from their team, although I admit to becoming
frustrated by the frequency of diving in the Champions League. Players from Holland
and Scandinavia aren't divers, but those from Spain and Italy go down far too easily
for my liking. Even players in Germany are used to taking a dive. In all those
countries it looks like they have been brought up with it since their schooldays. It's
tricky for me to take a dive, though. If I fall down under the slightest kick, I'm
going to look stupid falling down like I've been shot."
---------------------------------
[12] More from Stam
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"Everyone has seen that infamous picture of us crowding around the referee, with
Keane's veins on his face and neck standing out so much they could burst. I have to
say it doesn't look pretty. With hindsight, our actions were daft, as the referee was
never going to change his mind. But we felt we had to do something. We thought he had
made a mistake and we were desperate to tell him that. I was boiling with rage as I
looked up to see the ref pointing to the spot after my challenge on Juninho. He tried
to throw me in the penalty area by dropping his shoulder, but I read his trick and was
ready for him.
As he tried to go past my left side, I stuck my right boot out and nudged the ball
away before he collapsed over my outstretched leg and to the ground. My head went when
I heard the whistle and I thought there was no way it could be a penalty, because I'd
won the ball. He kept running backwards and that made it look worse. If he'd stood
still and talked to us, I doubt whether much would have been made of it. Probably the
fact that he kept retreating and waving us away got the fury pumping through our veins
even more. Fergie made it clear it was never to happen again and said: 'I know you all
want to win desperately. But you have to be more careful about the way you deal with
these sort of situations'."
---------------------------------
[11] Stam on Ruud
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"He has that huge price tag hanging around his neck and a warranted reputation for
scoring goals. Both could yet cause him problems. No player is worth that kind of cash
and the figure shows how crazy the transfer system has become. If the goals start
coming, the price tag won't be a problem for Ruud. But if he struggles to find the
target, the money will suddenly turn into an issue. I faced that situation with a
pounds 10.75m price tag, so did Rio Ferdinand after his pounds 18m move to Leeds. Ruud
has to be mentally strong, ignore the critics and listen to the people who count, like
Alex Ferguson.
I firmly believe Ruud will score goals for United. His track record is good, and
although the standard in England is much higher than in Holland, his finishing is good
enough to give the Premiership's goalkeepers nightmares."
---------------------------------
[10] Police fear more trouble this season
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
You do sometimes wonder if these reports are more for the benefit of people who aren't
involved with the game - as if talk of trouble being centered away from grounds is
something we didn't already know.
>From Ananova
'Police want football clubs to use some of their television millions to help tackle a
new breed of hooligans. Figures show thuggery is on the rise despite new legislation,
with an 8.1% increase in arrests for football-related offences last season. Detectives
are now treating football hooligans as an "organised crime group". They claim the
hooligans are branching out into other activities like drug-dealing, counterfeiting
and payment card fraud.
Bryan Drew, head of specialist intelligence at the National Criminal
Intelligence Service, said the violence was increasingly moving away from stadiums and
85% of incidents were now taking place in train stations, pubs and even in
neighbouring towns.
He said: "With the spread of pay-per-view television and television
dictating when certain matches are played - such as with an evening kick-off when
people have been drinking all day - there is a lot of money in football which police
forces would benefit from accessing. We would like to see some of the huge sums being
generated by football being earmarked for policing - not just in the grounds but away
from stadiums where the problems continue to fester."
Football Association spokesman Paul Newman said: "This phrase 'football is rich' is
trotted out by many people on many occasions but there are different contracts with
different companies, different contracts with different leagues.
"So if we are going down this particular route I am not sure how you would work out
who would pay what - it's not a simple matter."
Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth said: "I believe they should be paying for policing
within the stadium - but when you move away from that, there are issues that need to
be considered that are far wider than football."
Worth reading:
(link:http://www.ncis.co.uk/DOWNLOADS/Disorder-Reports.doc)
http://www.ncis.co.uk/DOWNLOADS/Disorder-Reports.doc
---------------------------------
[9] Stay at Wembley
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Says Geoff Hurst, heavily getting in the quotes to promote his new book.
Sir Geoff Hurst:
"My dream will be for David Beckham or a future England captain winning the World Cup
at the new Wembley as our great captain Bobby Moore did in 1966. The sheer emotion and
excitement has made the name of Wembley generate around the world. Its name and
reputation would be irreplaceable. It is a huge brand name. We have spent 75 years
building up the name of Wembley, the greatest stadium around the world, somewhere that
footballers from all over the world want to play. Its brand name is up there with
adidas, Manchester United and Coca-Cola. Would they change their names?"
Well we did from Football Club sadly...
---------------------------------
[8] Ole scores too
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
A 75th minute penalty for Norway in a 1-1 draw with Turkey.
---------------------------------
[7] Argentina-Ecuador match report
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From our man on the spot, who obviously got distracted!
'Match report (I saw the game live but may have missed a few things as there was a
porn at the same time).
Argentina won 2-0 and have now qualified for the WC. Veron scored the first goal
after 20 mins, a terrific strike from 35 yards into the bottom corner. He had a great
first half, controling the match with a simple but highly effective game. Was at the
origin of several good occasions and had several shoots from distance on target. A
quieter second half with Argentina easily controling the game. A good free-quick from
25 yards, saved by the keeper. No apparent injury. Crespo scored the other goal - a
penalty.'
---------------------------------
[6] United all stars turn out
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Ruud and Stam for Holland, Gary Nev, Scholes, Cole, Becks and Wes for England, Ole for
Norway, Keano and O'Shea for Eire - and not even mentioned France yet. Phil Nev failed
a late fitness test.
---------------------------------
[5] Becks on England
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Good shot before the match of Gary Nev, Scholes, Stam and Ruud all having a laugh in
the tunnel.
David Beckham:
"It is a learning experience for us. We have played six matches, won five and lost
one. It might do us good. We are all young players, inexperienced at playing with each
other. We have spent three days together which is not enough time to prepare. It was a
stepping stone for Germany...we would have liked to have taken something from the game
but it was a friendly and they are a very good side. We didn't push up enough, they
played the ball around us. When we did push up they got the two goals. Our confidence
has not been knocked too much. We would have liked the result but Germany is the big
one."
---------------------------------
[4] England 0 Holland 2 United 1
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Ruud again looked the business in a great display for the Dutch, but as well as being
sharp in the box his fine chip out of nothing that hit the bar showed he has all round
ability. Much to impress.
---------------------------------
[3] Last chance for you to enter our Fantasy Football League
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
For those of you interested in joining the Football Fantasy League for this coming
season, a Red News League is now available at www.cyki.com.
And free too! Once you have entered your team, simply click on My Leagues and in the
Join box, type the following (might be easier to cut and paste).
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
---------------------------------
[2] Well, we were impressed
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Although it doesn't take much - spotted buying a copy of Red News' Fergie special in
Sportspages - comedian and once Big Breakfast presenter Paul Tomkinson.
Also unconfirmed rumours that Queen Liz popped in too and got the £2 out but we're
waiting for the photo...
---------------------------------
[1] New Red News out on Sunday + get your Fergie special too
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, August 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Our new issue, Red News no.79 will be out on Sunday, sold before the Fulham game
outside Old Trafford. It contains the funniest Liverpool team photo you will ever see
(along the lines of the Arse 12 month calandar doing the rounds at the moment), Eric
beach tourny review, gossip and a look at the recent Celtic friendly from unbiased
eyes - and much more beside. A must have - this issue will cost just £1.50.
You can reserve issue 79 by sending a cheque for £2 inc p&p to Red News, P.O.Box 176,
Manchester M16 8LG.
You may also be aware that we have produced a very special - and limited - Fergie
special, a commemoration for the start of his last season in charge, containing many
unique memories and stories from the Red News team and loads of Utd fans.
We will also be selling this Fergie special at the Fulham game (ask one of our sellers
for it), but to be sure of your copy you can send a cheque for £2.50 to cover postage
and packing to the above. We do however plan a re-print of this special if you can't
get to the Fulham game.
---------------------------------
[26] Leeds plan move
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, August 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
Peter Ridsdale:
"I can confirm that the site is Skelton and is the one we have identified as the ideal
site. I believe we are very close to building a world-class team here and it's now
time to deliver a stadium in which they can play, one in which future generations of
fans deserve to watch such a team.
It is now down to the supporters. There is a three-week open period now for the fans
to comment, reply and vote."
---------------------------------
[25] David Icke on Emile Heskey
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, August 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From Football365
'I was at the Millennium Stadium (magnificent) on Sunday with my Liverpool-mad little
boy and I was facing the very area of the field occupied by Heskey in the second half.
If you really want to see a game in all its aspects you have to be there because
television, for obvious reasons, follows the ball at all times. You miss a crucial
element of the game - what is happening off the ball.
On this occasion, however, I can assure the television viewers that, in relation to
Emile Heskey, they missed nothing whatsoever. The chap operating the SKY TV
'Playercam' would have had a doddle of an afternoon if he was tracking Heskey. The
last time I saw something that tall standing so still for so long, it was perched on
the edge of a cliff shining a light across the sea.
There can be few players in the Premiership who make so little of the natural gifts
that life has bestowed. Heskey is immense physically, he's got pace, no little skill
for such a big man and can strike the ball with tremendous power. When he puts that
together he can be awesome, but how often does he do it?
On Sunday, this giant of a man was doing a very passable impression of a big girl's
blouse. I mean, does this guy have a problem with gravity? Crikey, he goes down more
times than Oxford United. Here's a man who makes King Kong look like a seven-stone
weakling and yet he allows himself to be physically overcome by players less than half
his size. Talk about not punching your weight.
One of the reasons that Manchester United had so much possession in the second half
was that when Liverpool did get the ball they had nowhere to go. Almost every time
McAllister and co looked up, there was Heskey marking himself alongside Stam or
Neville and the only option was to whack the ball long and hope for the best.'
